United States-based sprinter, Favour Ashe, is the latest athlete to join the wave of stars dumping Nigeria for other countries.

Ashe, who has been Nigeria’s fastest sprinter in recent times, said he is done with and is set for greener pastures in Qatar.

Ashe, who told The Guardian, yesterday, that he has been in Qatar for the past five months, said he found Nigerian athletics environment unfavourable to his career, and that he is heading for a country where he would be treated with respect and rewarded for his efforts.

Another athlete, Sunday Akintan, who recently made a mark running indoor with a time 6.48secs, is said to have switched allegiance to the Arab country, whose intention is to have a formidable 4x100m relays team anchored by Nigerian sprinters.

Some other home-based athletes, including those in camp for the Commonwealth Games are said to be ready to jump ship and make something good out of their careers.

Ashe, in particular, was embittered by the alleged treatment he got during the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, when he was disqualified from the 100m final.

He has a personal best of 9.79seconds and has yet to open his season in 2026.

He said: “The Qatar federation is taking us to South Africa to begin our season there. This is something Nigeria will never do.

“There are many young Nigerians in the Qatari team training for the Olympics and they are well catered for.

“Those who have the opportunity to leave are not looking back; soon Nigeria would be hit by an exodus of athletes, some are even ready to run for other African countries that can offer them good compensation and opportunity to compete all year round in events that appeal to them.”

Ashe represented Team Delta at the last National Sports Festival in Abeokuta. An official of Delta State Sports Commission, who spoke with The Guardian on the issue, yesterday, said they are not aware of his move to Qatar.

It was not clear yesterday, if Ashe is among the athletes who have received training grants from the National Sports Commission (NSC) this year.

The Guardian recalls that last year, one of Nigeria’s best sprinters, Favour Ofili, dumped the country for Turkey, citing ill treatment by officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) at the last Olympics Games in Paris.